Category Archives: Etape du Tour

Advice and experience of riding the Etape du Tour. Moral support, kit advice, gearing advice and all aspects of successfully riding the Etape.

After the climb, the descent

Posted on 2 August 2010 by Alex Murray

It sits there in the hallway, untouched. It pleads with me every time I pass it, but I ignore it. I ignore it as long as I can. But there comes a point where you have to take the bike … Continue reading →

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Stage 17 of Tour de France 2010 – How tough?

Posted on 22 July 2010 by Alex Murray

While riding the Etape du Tour, I also found time to make a video report for BBC Sport You can watch it on the BBC Cycling site: Tour de France 2010: How tough is the Col du Tourmalet? My favourite … Continue reading →

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Etape du Tour 2010: Pau to Tourmalet in which time slips away from me

Posted on 20 July 2010 by Alex Murray

07:44 it read at the foot of the Tourmalet as I swung left over the timing mat and up through Luz Saint Saveur. “No danger from the voiture balai here. Should be able to do this in under ten hours … Continue reading →

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Etape du Tour survival: Key times and distances guide

Posted on 15 July 2010 by Alex Murray

Here’s something I ran up for the event and which I’ll be taping to my top tube on the day. It’s a cut out and stick on guide to the key distances, times and locations for the day. It should … Continue reading →

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I’m riding for Roy Kinnear House

Posted on 13 July 2010 by Alex Murray

It’s seems it’s all the rage these days to say you’re riding for someone or something. There’s even people riding just for the fun of it in among those riding for everything from cancer to a free lunch. I’ve ummed … Continue reading →

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Etape du Tour survival: Preparing your head

Posted on 6 July 2010 by Alex Murray

Nothing to do with your choice of mandatory helmet (Giro Prolight is my current choice) but with the art of mentally preparing yourself for the event. It’s as important as your physical fitness to get your positive, winning attitude right … Continue reading →

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Etape du Tour survival: Food and drink

Posted on 30 June 2010 by Alex Murray

I’m no nutritionist but one thing I know is that lots of people get it wrong. And it’s just as easy to eat and drink too much as it is to take on too little. Cyclefit have a great guide … Continue reading →

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Etape du Tour survival: Your clothing and kit

Posted on 20 June 2010 by Alex Murray

So we’ve done the bike, now to deal with the other big area of equipment: what to wear for the big day. The most important elements to get right are those that will have most contact during the ride: shorts … Continue reading →

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Etape du Tour survival: Your bike

Posted on 12 June 2010 by Alex Murray

So it’s about six weeks away now and most people have done a handful of long tough sportives to get in shape. I’ve been battering out the bike time with a mix of riding in the Surrey Hills (usually a … Continue reading →

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Col du Tourmalet celebrates its centenary

Posted on 14 October 2009 by Alex Murray

So on Sunday 18 July 2010 9,500 riders will head off from Pau in search of the summit of the Col du Tourmalet, the summit on which the centenary visit to the Pyrenees will focus. I’ve gone two years without … Continue reading →

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